Lifting device.



L. M. FOLLINGSTAD.

LIPTING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..15, 1911.

1,005,633. Patented Oct'..10,1911.

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. pivot plates of the tilting bars.

TE STATES PAENT FFTQE.

LOUIS M. FOLLINGSTAD, OF ZUMBROTA, MINNESOTA.

LIFTING DEVICE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUis M. FoLLINe- STAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zumbrota, State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lifting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in lifting devices, and has particular application to a device of the class described adapted especially for automatically lifting hay racks and wagon bodies from the running gears of wagons.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient form of lifting device, by means of which racks and wagon bodies may be quickly and easily lifted from the running gear.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, whereby the lifting or removal of the rack or wagon body is accomplished automatically, as the wagon is drawn by a horse or horses through the frame of the lift.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a perspective view of a lifting device embodying my invention, the tilted, lifting position of the rack or wagon body carrying bar being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the wheeled bearings or carriages upon which the rack or body is adapted to ride. Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view, in detail, taken through one of the pivoted beams or bars and through the wheeled carriage, illustrating the longitudinal grooves in the bars and the vertical roller bearing on the carriage moving therein.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numerals 111-1 designate four standards, and to the standards 11 I secure vertically extending metallic studs or bars 22 pivotally connected as at 3 to the vertically extending webs 4 of the flat plates 5, said webs being preferably cast or otherwise formed integral with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 15, 1911.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 621,296.

plates 5. These plates 5 are connected through the medium of bolts 6 or other suitable means to approximately the central portion of the longitudinally extending parallel beams 8, so that the beams are pivotally mounted upon the standards 1, and may be tilted as hereinafter described. Adapted to travel along the upper side of these rails or beams 8 are the wheeled bearings or carriages (6, preferably four in number, two on each beam, one of said carriages being shown in detail in Fig. 2. Each carriage comprises a frame 9 in which is journaled the rollers or wheels 10 the sides of said frame extending downward and carrying vertically mounted roller bearings 11 which are aproximately octagonal inform, and are adapted to travel in the longitudinally extended grooves 12 formed in the rails or beams 8. The upper face or side of each of the rails or beams 8 is formed with a recess or notch 18, which may be made by boring a socket in the beam and then chiseling or otherwise removingthe material at one face of the opening, so that an inclined surface, as at 14, leads to the socket. These notches or recesses are preferably formed in the portion of the beam adapted to be tilted toward the ground, and are spaced apart a suitable distance. The notches do not extend entirely across the top face of the beam, as this would form a ragged track and interfere with the travel of the carriages or bearings, but are formed approximately centrally in the beam face. Each carriage is provided with a pivoted lug 15 having a downwardly curved end 16 designed to engage with the recesses or notches as is shown in Fig. 1. At the ends of the notched portions of the rails or beams are supporting legs 17 hinged as at 18 to such end portions, so that such legs may be swung inward against the sides of the rails when not in use, and may be held in such'folded position by any suitable means such, for instance, as by the latches 19 pivoted to the under side of the beam, so that said latches may be moved into locking position. These hinged legs are usually only employed when it is desired to permit the rack or body to remain upon the lifter for some time. 'Secured to the tops of the front standards 11 are supporting plates 20, adapted to catch and support the forward ends of the beams 8 when the latter are dropped into the horizontal or load-supporting position.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and operation of my improved lifting device will be readily apparent.

When the lifter is to be used, the beams are tilted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the notched portions thereof extending to the ground and the wheeled carriages or bearings at that end having their lugs in engagement with certain of the recesses or notches according to the size of the wagon carrying the body to be lifted. The front or forward carriages or bearings engage with the front end of the wagon box or rack and as the wagon is drawn forward by the horses, the carriages move along the beam lifting the box or rack in the front. "When the rack is elevated and drawn forward so that the center of the rack or box passes the pivot point or balance of the beams, the latter drop down, and rest upon the supporting plates at the front standards, thereby lifting the rear end of the rack or box clear of the running gear. The draft animals continue to pull forward upon the attached vehicle until the rack or boX is entirely clear of the running gear. In order to replace the rack or box upon the wagon, the latter is backed under the rack or box on the lifter, and the lugs on the carriages at the notched portions of the beams are thrown upward to prevent engagement of the same with the notches or recesses. The rack or box is then pushed backward on the beams until the latter tilt downward when the rack or box catches on the rear end of the wagon. The latter may now be backed until the front end of the rack or wagon box rests upon the running gear. The operation of replacing the rack or box is accomplished with the same rapidity or facility as the removal thereof.

If more than one rack is to be lifted I place a bar 22 across oppositely disposed carriages, there being of course two of these bars, one for each set of carriages as is shown in Fig. 1. It is not necessary to employ these bars where it is desired to lift but one rack, and their use may be dispensed with. However, in case two or more are to be lifted at the same time, the front bar is placed between the horses and the rack and under the front end of the latter, and is ad justed to the proper position. The rear bar is placed in position and adjusted just before the rack tilts forward, and thus carries the rear end of the latter to proper position. This bar raises the rack above the lifter parts so that such rack may be moved to either side of the lifter and placed on a frame or stand placed along side for that purpose.

It will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly convenient, cheap and strong form of lifter, which is positive and efficient in its operation.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described by way of illustration one particular embodiment of the invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details herein set forth as modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

hat I claim is l. The combination of supporting standards, rails or beams pivoted at their central portion to said standards, supports for the front ends of said beams, and load supporting carriages or bearings traveling on said rails, each carriage comprising a frame, wheels carried thereby, and vertically mounted bearings carried by depending portions of the frame, and traveling in grooves formed longitudinally in the rails.

2. The combination with supporting standards, of rails or beams pivoted to said supporting standards, supports for the front end of the beams, said beams having grooves at the sides aiid provided with a series of notches in the top faces thereof, and load-supporting carriages traveling on said rails, each carriage comprising a frame, wheels carried thereby, bearings carried by the frame and traveling in the grooves in the sides of the rail and locking means carried by the frame and adapted to engage at predetermined points with the notches in the top surface of the rails upon which the carriage is mounted.

3. The combination with supporting standards, of rails or beams pivoted to said standards, supports for the forward ends of said rails, said rails having a series of notches in the upper surfaces thereof, carriages traveling in pairs upon the rails, each carriage comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels and a pivoted dog adapted to engage at a predetermined point with the notches within the rail upon which the carriage is traveling, and bars connecting each pair of carriages.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS M. FOLLINGSTAD.

\Vitnesses H. O. ROMNESS, MARTIN HALVORSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

